San Diego is an ideal weekend destination that has coastal beaches and is situated close to the mountains. There are plenty of family-friendly things to see and do that children of all ages will enjoy. This includes various theme parks, kid-centered museums and outdoor activities.

Best Times to Visit

Along with low humidity and good air quality, San Diego has lovely weather and relatively constant average temperatures throughout the year. The best times to visit are March through May and then from September through November. The best rates are available from December through February. The city is a popular spring break and summer vacation destination, which results in larger crowds especially on weekends.

Travel Tips

Make an itinerary. San Diego offers a wide range of activities. Determine which ones will interest your family during your weekend getaway. Booking reservations at a hotel within a short commute of these attractions will reduce travel and give you more time to enjoy the activities. Search online for family-friendly restaurants near these attractions.

Travel safety is important. Ensure that the children ride in approved car seats. Prepare for possible emergencies. Verify that you have packed all essential items like medications before leaving home. Make sure that the children are under close supervision at all times.

Keep children busy when traveling. Bring audio books, travel games, art supplies and other interesting activities to occupy their minds while riding or flying.

Best Attractions

San Diego offers activities for children of all ages. When planning your weekend trip, consider these popular choices.

San Diego Zoo is regarded as one of the best attractions of its kind in the world. Along with animal exhibits, the park has an aerial tram for a bird’s-eye-view, a children’s petting zoo and a discovery playground.

Based on the miniature building blocks, LEGOLAND California offers more than 60 rides, shows and attractions. It is an interactive experience for families with children 12 and younger.

SeaWorld is home to thrill rides, aquatic shows and live entertainment. The aquarium is home to a walk-through shark tank.

New Children’s Museum features interactive exhibits that encourage children of all ages to think and play creatively as they discover the world through contemporary art.

Botanic Garden has several themed green spaces geared toward children of different ages. Depending upon their age, children can enjoy making bubbles, excavating plastic dinosaur bones and riding a model train. Older children can climb inside a treehouse and play a giant game of tic-tac-toe.

Birch Aquarium is ideal for families with young children who will enjoy the up-close view of the tanks filled with sharks, jellyfish and other sea creatures. The aquarium also has a touch tank where children can pet sea stars and sea cucumbers.

The Maritime Museum includes several unique ships, including sailing vessels, steam-powered boats and a submarine. Children can take envision themselves sailing the high seas as a pirate or explorer.

Balboa Park is the setting for a carousel, playgrounds and a model train ride. The park also hosts free outdoor concerts.

The beach is always a popular attraction with children. San Diego has more than 70 miles of sand. While Coronado Island offers gentle waves and marvelous views, Pacific Beach is a wonderful place to swim and play in the sand. Crystal Pier is great for exploring. Mission Beach is ideal for surfing, swimming and strolling along the 3.5-mile boardwalk.

Popular Events for Children and the Entire Family

St. Patrick’s Day features a parade with marching bands, floats, dancing groups and antique cars. Balboa Park is the setting for the Irish Festival that celebrates Celtic food, music and culture.

Memorial Day kicks off the summer with parades and craft fairs as well as music and food festivals.

Independence Day celebrations include the Big Bay Boom, the largest fireworks display in the country. The holiday also includes parades, craft fairs and festivals filled with food, music and other entertainment.

The kid-centric attractions held during October are more budget friendly. More than 100 attractions, restaurants and hotels offer free admission or discount deals as part of Kid Free San Diego throughout the month.

Halloween features costume parades, pumpkin patches and haunted houses. A variety of family-friendly events is held in the area.

San Diego encompasses approximately 372 square miles, which makes it difficult to experience everything the city has to offer without transportation. Although automobiles are the most popular way to get around the city, it often results in long commutes, parking issues and delays because of congestion. The best way to avoid these problems is to take a hop-on/hop-off San Diego tour with Old Town Trolley. A full-day trolley ticket enables you to stop at various historic sites and attractions. Spend whatever time you want at each location before climbing aboard the next passing trolley. You can avoid driving in the city and searching for parking spaces at popular attractions. Using the Old Town Trolley will give you more time to spend doing the things that you want and less time in a car.

For a unique perspective of the city, climb aboard a 90-minute San Diego SEAL Tour. This thrilling excursion starts on land with an exploration of points of interest along the San Diego waterfront. The tour then goes into the water where passengers can observe seals and sea lions. You will have the opportunity for an amazing up-close experience with these playful creatures in their natural habitat.

Traveling with your children is a great opportunity for the entire family to bond while creating memories that will last a lifetime. Including activities that each member of the family will enjoy ensures a more pleasurable travel experience for everyone.

Long celebrated for its stunning oceanfront location and views, Pantai Inn is perfectly positioned to be the ideal family destination in the San Diego area, hot on the heels of an extensive renovation and redesign.

While the Inn boasts a wide range of accommodations, what makes it so advantageous to families is its selection of commodious three-bedroom and two-bedroom suites as well as cottages, all with kitchens, which are well equipped to house families. The suites range from casual to deluxe, with even the more casual options providing the welcoming attitude and tropical atmosphere that the Inn is known for.

Coastal views and beautiful décor is only part of the Inn’s charm. It is centrally located to many of the area’s family and kid-friendly attractions, including the world-famous San Diego Zoo & Safari Park, Balboa Park (including a plethora of museums, performing arts venues, lovely gardens and more), and popular family attractions like Legoland are just a short drive away. For entertainment of the natural variety, the Inn is a short walk from La Jolla’s coastal Children’s Pool, tide pools and beaches, and is situated across from the rocky outcropping that is a favorite sunbathing spot of sea lions and harbor seals. There is no shortage of oceanfront activities alongside La Jolla’s stunning coastline including kayaking, stand up paddling, snorkeling, sailing and biking.

My family had the opportunity to visit Pantai Inn for a couple of nights and we had an amazing time! We stayed in a 3 bedroom Suite and it was the best Summer vacation ever! I only wish we could have stayed longer! The view from our place was simply amazing and although I am not usually one to be up at sunrise…I was up at sunrise since the beach was so close by with an amazing view and tons of Sea Lions! I also have to point out that the Staff is the best! They made my family feel at home and I loved that Tea and Coffee are available all day and all the little touches such as chocolate on our pillows at the end of the day…well, I really could go on and on….

The rooms were beautiful and my husband and I loved the whole Bali theme! The Original Balinese art and design really makes this place unique!

I just loved the Kitchen! It truly was fully stocked!

I have to admit spending time on the balcony was a favorite thing for me! I could see and hear the ocean from that spot and I loved having my breakfast there! By the way, breakfast is complimentary there and the food is quite impressive! I loved the Baked Egg Cups and there were two options to choose from! My favorite was the Mediterranean-Sun Dried Tomato with Feta! Yum! The Chef also makes a really delicious Strawberry Cobbler Muffin! But, honestly, the breakfast is something to write home about!

I have to admit that my teenage son wasn’t excited about this trip before we arrived but he had a great time! The room accommodations, the view and the customer service truly made this a great vacation! What really impressed me was how we had all the comforts of home yet we felt like we were so far away from home. It truly was a unique experience without leaving Southern California!

And, the view was simply amazing!

And..walking distance to an amazing beach….I was absolutely thrilled!

Hands down visiting the Pantai Inn and La Jolla this Summer was the best time my family had together this Summer!

There’s still time to visit! Summer isn’t over yet!

More About the Pantai Inn
The Pantai Inn’s distinct guest accommodations blend a unique Balinese-inspired décor with luxurious comforts and contemporary conveniences. The relaxing oceanfront retreat offers a lush garden setting with soothing water features and an inviting courtyard to stimulate the senses.

Offering a variety of accommodations from ocean view studios and one-bedroom suites to three-bedroom cottages, the Inn is perfect for romantic getaways or family vacations. Whatever the occasion, the Pantai experience is completed by the warmth and authenticity of the Inn’s extraordinary guest service. Ranked as a top hotel in La Jolla by TripAdvisor, the 30 room Pantai Inn is located in the charming seaside village of La Jolla and is steps away from the finest restaurants, boutiques and galleries the area has to offer. The Pantai Inn is located at 1003 Coast Blvd, La Jolla CA, 92037. For information and reservations call toll free 855.287.2682 or visit www.pantai.com.

Self Disclosure: My family was invited to visit Pantai Inn. No other compensation was received but our stay was comped. All opinions are my own. I highly recommend Pantai Inn. Photo Credit: Top Photo: Pantai Inn. All other photos: SoCal City Kids.

Home to the blocky amusement park and SeaLife, the sunny SoCal city Carlsbad, CA is often thought as a wonderland for kids. However, with Omni La Costa’s new Edge Day Club, bike-friendly roads throughout the city, seven miles of pristine beaches, ample watersports activities, and more this city isn’t just a playground for kids, it’s also a playground for adults looking to release their inner child.

Photo: Biking along one of the many bike paths that follow the coastline.(Photo Credit: Visit Carlsbad)

For those looking to find their younger self during their summer getaway, here are 15 ways to summer like a kid in Carlsbad, CA: